I was a very little fellow, so little that I could
give no account of myself. He found a black woman and me floating all
alone on a raft out in the Atlantic. She died almost immediately we
were rescued, without his being able to learn anything from her. He had
to bury her at sea, and when he got home he in vain tried to find out my
friends, though he preserved, I believe, the clothes I had on, and most
of her clothes. He sent me to an excellent school, where I was well
taught; and Mrs Grimes, who was a dear, kind lady, far more refined
than you would suppose his wife to have been, acted truly like a mother
to me. He was very fond of her, and when she died, nearly a year ago,
he took me to sea with him. I did not, however, give up my studies, but
used to sit in the cabin, and every day read as much as I could.
Captain Grimes used to say that he was sure I was a gentleman born, and
a gentleman he wished me to be, and so I have always felt myself."

I had been struck by little Clem's refined manners, and this was now
accounted for. "I am sure you are a gentleman, Clem," I observed; "and
if we ever get home, my father, who is a lawyer, shall try to find out
your friends. He may be able to succeed though Captain Grimes could
not. I wonder he did not apply to my father, as, from my having been
sent on board his ship, the captain must have known him. I suspect that
they wanted to sicken me of a sea life, and so sent me on board the
_Naiad_; but they were mistaken; and now when they hear that she has
gone down--if we are not picked up--how sorry they will be!"

The conversation I have described was frequently interrupted--sometimes
by a heavier sea than usual rolling by, and compelling us to hold tight
for our lives; at others we were silent for several minutes together.
We were seated on the after-part of the maintop, the rigging which hung
down on either side acting as ballast, and contributing to keep the
wreck of the mast tolerably steady in one position. We were thus
completely out of the water, though the spray from the crest of the seas
which was blown over us kept us thoroughly wet and cold. Fortunately,
we both had on thick clothing. Clement was always nicely dressed, for
the captain, though not particular about himself, liked to see him look
neat, while I, on the contrary, had on my oldest working suit, and was
as rough-looking a sea-dog as could be imagined. My old tarry coat and
trousers, and sou'-wes